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spt_olybananas.sTitle = "Ultimate underdogs";
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spt_olybananas[i++] = new Array("","Alpine skiing","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_olybananas[i++] = new Array("","Rahlves vs. Miller","Daron Rahlves, left, has his best chance to beat Bode Miller, right, in the downhill.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/051216/051216_miller_hmed_8a.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Vincenzo Pinto", "AFP - Getty Images", "98", "148", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_olybananas[i-1].body = "Daron Rahlves vs. Bode MillerHead-to-head
Since Miller came on the scene in 1998, he has placed ahead of Rahlves five of eight seasons in the overall World Cup standings (not counting this season). Here, an overview: In 2006, currently, Rahlves first, Miller second; 2005, Miller first, Rahlves fifth; 2004, Miller fourth, Rahlves fifth (though Rahlves placed better in downhill and super-G); 2003 Miller second, Rahlves sixth (though Rahvles placed better in downhill); 2002, Miller fourth, Rahlves, 34th; 2001, Rahlves 29th, Miller 42nd; 2000, Rahlves, 20th, Miller 90th; 1999, Miller 38th, Rahlves 53rd; 1998, Rahlves 57th, Miller 95th.
Close calls in the past
Rahlves just beat Miller recently, on Dec. 29 and on Dec. 3, by 27 hundredths of a second in a World Cup race at Beaver Creek, Colo. So it can happen anytime, anyplace.
Odds of an upset
We still like Miller, who puts down the Olympics a lot but figures to rise to these occasions. Figure Rahlves is 3-to-2 to place higher in the downhill, 3-to-1 in the other races. But also figure that, sooner or later, Bode will fall down a mountain.";
spt_olybananas[i++] = new Array("","Figure skating","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_olybananas[i++] = new Array("","Cohen vs. Kwan","Sasha Cohen will try to upstage Michelle Kwan just like Tara Lipinski in 1998 and Sarah Hughes in '02.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/051227/051227_cohen_1p.vsmall.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Francois Mori", "AP", "198", "132", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_olybananas[i-1].body = "Sasha Cohen vs. Michelle Kwan
Why it could happen
It isn’t that it could happen. It should happen. Both women are struggling with hip injuries, but Kwan has had worse problems, and may not be able to manage individual triple jumps, let alone combinations. Another problem: There are Japanese and Russian skaters, like Irina Slutskaya, who may beat them both.
Head-to-heads
During a seven-year career, Cohen has beaten Kwan in only two minor events, and at two majors, including the 2004 world championships, when Cohen was second and Kwan third; and at the 2005 worlds, when Cohen was second and Kwan fourth. Kwan has finished ahead of Cohen everywhere else, including at nine marquee events, five U.S. championships, three worlds and the 2002 Olympics.
Close calls in the past
Cohen beat Kwan at the last world championships, so Cohen knows the greatest skater of her generation is now vulnerable.
Odds of an upset
Don’t even call this an upset, just a change in the pecking order. Figure the odds are 1-to-2 that Cohen places higher than Kwan, and 3-to-1 that she wins gold.";
spt_olybananas[i++] = new Array("","Ice dancing","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_olybananas[i++] = new Array("","Belbin, Agosto vs. Navka, Kostomarov","Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto have an outside shot at gold in Turin.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/051227/051227_belbinAgosto.vsmall.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Steve Dipaola", "Reuters", "193", "148", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_olybananas[i-1].body = "Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto vs. Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov
Why it could happen
The sport’s new scoring system may force judges to really look at these routines, and the flubs, rather than simply phone in the standings as they’ve done in the past. You have to wonder, though, whether the Americans will be punished for the last-minute maneuvers that allowed Belbin, a Canadian, to become a U.S. citizen.
Head-to-head
Navka and Kostomarov of Russia have met Belbin and Agosto in five world championships, and the Russian ice dancers have placed higher in every one of them (though the gap is clearly narrowing): 2001, 12th vs. 17th; 2002, fifth vs. 13th; 2003, fourth vs. seventh; 2004, first vs. fourth; 2005, first vs. second.
Close calls in the past
Belbin and Agosto have improved at a rapid rate, and they challenged the Russians more than ever at the 2005 world championships.
Odds of an upset
Slim, though not impossible as it might have been before the Salt Lake City judging scandal in pairs. Figure 8-to-1, but the American-Canadians must also worry about Bulgarians Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski.";
spt_olybananas[i++] = new Array("","Short track","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_olybananas[i++] = new Array("","Baver (and Kim) vs.
Jin Sun-Yu","Kim Hjo-Jung, 17, is a definite medal contender in short track at the Olympics.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss_051222_olypreview/051221_kim_hyojung.vsmall.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Kevork Djansezian", "AP file", "167", "148", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_olybananas[i-1].body = "Allison Baver (and Kim Hjo-Jung )
vs. Jin Sun-Yu
Why it could happen
This is short-track speed skating, so get ready for craziness. Somebody could fall, somebody could cheat, somebody could get disqualified. Baver is more than just Apolo Anton Ohno’s girlfriend. She’s a smart skater, who knows how to stay out of trouble. And South Korean Jin is just a kid, after all.
Head-to-head
As of mid-December, Baver hadn’t beaten Jin Sun-Yu since the just-17-year-old Korean became the dominant force in short track this season, losing four times in major finals at three different distances – 1,000, 1,500 and 3,000 meters. Kim, a 17-year-old Korean-American, hadn’t defeated Jin, either, through the first few events this season.
Odds of an upset
Figure Baver and Kim will win some medals, but they’re no better than a combined 3-to-1 to topple the red-hot Jin.";
spt_olybananas[i++] = new Array("","Speedskating","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_olybananas[i++] = new Array("","Davis vs. Hedrick","Chad Hedrick may be the U.S. team's most consistent skater, but he'll have to be wary of teammate Shani Davis at Turin.","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/051228/051228_hedrick_vmed_4p.vsmall.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Steve C. Wilson", "AP", "191", "148", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_olybananas[i-1].body = "Shani Davis vs. Chad Hedrick
Why it could happen
Davis has gone from world champ to a bit of an enigma, having decided to make an unsuccessful run at a short-track Olympic team berth.
Meanwhile, Hedrick, a former inline star, has established himself as the team’s most consistent performer. But Davis has greatness in him, and could easily flash some of his top form. If he does, even Hedrick will have trouble staying with him.
Head-to-head
This whole thing is more of a toss-up, than an upset possibility, really. The most important head-to-heads never took place, because Davis skipped the U.S. trials in December and decided to keep training instead. So we don’t have a good measure of recent comparison.
Last February, Davis became the all-around world champion with 150,778 points, beating Hedrick by just 184 points overall. This winter season, Hedrick set the world record at 1,500 meters in 1:42.78, while Davis set the mark in the 1,000 meters at 1:07.03.
Close calls in the past
These guys have been leap-frogging each other for the past two seasons. One guy sets a record, then the other guy tops it. “The world has its hands full with the two of us,” Hedrick says.
Odds of upset
Give Hedrick the slight edge at 1000, but Hedrick can certainly take him in the 1500 – provided he is at all in form. The other nations may just sit back and watch them climb the medal stands. Watch them climb the medal stands.";
spt_olybananas[i++] = new Array("","Women's hockey","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
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Why it could happen
The U.S. team is very young, now built around some University of Minnesota stars, and doesn’t know it’s supposed to lose. Besides, anything can happen in one hockey match (see 1980, Miracle on Ice). In the end, no matter how many times these teams deny it, the gold medal will come down to one final game between the two teams. The other nations don’t have a chance, which is why this probably shouldn’t be an Olympic sport quite yet.
Head-to-head
The U.S. is 25-36-1 against the defending Olympic champions, including a disheartening 1-5 mark in the first six meetings this season (going into games on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1.)
Close calls
Most of the matches between these two sides are extremely physical (despite the non-checking rules) and very tight. The U.S. won a shootout victory in December, then lost the next game, 3-1, but you can see these things swing on a play or two.
Odds of an upset
Hey, we said it could happen, not that it will. Former captain Cammi Granato, who was cut by non-nostalgic coach Ben Smith, might have helped provide some inspiration in a pinch. Figure the U.S. is 3-to-1 in that big final.";
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// END editorial data